Writing for the reader

Some poets say they write for themselves. I believe them.

There are authors who are so incomprehensible, so out of reach in their text that we mortals put it down after the first line. Maybe Sylvia Plath could get away with it -- apparently she did -- but the rest of us can't.

Whether you are writing a business letter or a magazine article, the first rule is: Know your audience. Are they knowledgeable about your topic? Will they understand the terminology of your content? If you aren't sure, stop and explain.

You don't impress by using inside terminology -- you just run the risk of being elitist. What do you mean when you say you're a strategist? That you command over wars? Just say it the way you would to someone on the elevator -- yes, the elevator pitch. "I'm a corporate strategist," means nothing. "I consult corporations on how they can make better profits," works.